This tutorial on how to draw the Nutcracker will appeal to anyone who loves classical ballet and the atmosphere of the winter holidays.

How to Draw a Nutcracker: Introduction

The Nutcracker is arguably one of the most recognizable characters we encounter on the ballet stage, alongside the iconic ballerina. Additionally, the Nutcracker is one of the symbols of Christmas. To pay tribute to this character and classical ballet, today I will show you how to draw a Nutcracker in a few truly simple steps.

This Nutcracker drawing lesson will follow the traditional steps of any person drawing tutorial, but it will have its own unique characteristics. The Nutcracker is not a real person in the traditional sense, so we need to give him the necessary toy-like appearance. I will show you how to achieve this look in this tutorial.

For a more comprehensive understanding of the character, I will complete this Nutcracker drawing tutorial with additional instructions, which you can find at the end of this article. These extra steps will deepen your knowledge and help you create a more accurate and detailed Nutcracker drawing.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll have a better grasp of how to portray this beloved holiday character in a way that reflects both its toy-like qualities and its role as a symbol of Christmas.

Nutcracker Drawing Tutorial

Materials

Pencil
Paper
Eraser
Coloring supplies

Time needed: 40 minutes

How to Draw a Nutcracker

Draw the body outline.
Start this tutorial on how to draw a nutcracker by sketching a long vertical rectangle to form the body. Ensure the sides are straight, and the angles are slightly rounded for a more natural look. This simple shape is the basic part of the future illustration.
Sketch the arms and legs.
For the arms, draw two horizontal rectangles on either side of the Nutcracker’s body. Make the top ends of the arms straight and the bottom ends rounded. After that, draw the legs of the Nutcracker with an elongated rectangular shape.
Detail the head and body.
Now, add several horizontal lines. First, divide the head and torso. Then, add horizontal lines to the head to detail the hat. Next, sketch a couple of short horizontal lines to indicate the hands and shoulder straps. Finally, draw longer horizontal lines for the belt and boots.
Add buttons and buckles.
Draw two small circles for the eyes. Below the eyes, add a small rectangular vertical shape for the nose. Next, draw the Nutcracker’s signature mustache by creating two curved shapes on either side of the nose. You can add a smile or a small line for the mouth beneath the mustache.
Draw the facial features of the Nutcracker.
To give your Nutcracker drawing more detailed look, let’s add some circles. First, draw a couple of simple circles to detail the hat of the Nutcracker. Next, draw a few smaller circles for buttons at the front of the chest. Finish this step by drawing the buckle at the center of the belt.
Add the teeth, beard, and hair.
Let’s return to the Nutcracker’s head to add more details. First, draw the open mouth using a couple of horizontal lines. Next, add the teeth inside this shape. After that, draw the signature beard just below the mouth. Finally, sketch the hair on the sides using a couple of curves.
Detail the legs and boots.
Now, separate the legs of the Nutcracker with a long vertical line right at the center of the shape from the second step. At the bottom of the legs, draw boots by adding a couple of curved lines. Then, detail the boots by adding a series of short horizontal rectangles.
Add the finishing touches to the sketch.
Draw any additional lines to represent details like stripes on the legs or decorative elements on the arms. Then, erase any unnecessary guidelines from your Nutcracker drawing to give it more finished look and prepare for the coloring step.
Color the Nutcracker.
Use bright, bold colors for the uniform, such as red, blue, and gold. For the boots and belt, use darker colors like brown or black. The hat can be colored with matching gold or red accents, and the face can be lightly shaded. The background can remain simple or you can add additional elements.

Simple Nutcracker Drawing Tutorial

This tutorial on drawing the Nutcracker follows a more minimalistic approach with clear and simple steps. Unlike the first tutorial, this method uses fewer and more direct lines to create a simplified version of the Nutcracker. Additionally, the Nutcracker in this tutorial looks much different.

Let’s start this tutorial on how to draw a Nutcracker by sketching the head with a couple of simple curved lines for the sides. After that, sketch the signature hat of the character. Then, sketch the body using straight lines and basic rectangular shapes for the torso and arms. Add a bowtie to the torso to define the Nutcracker’s outfit. After the torso is in place, draw the legs and boots.

For the face, draw two circles to illustrate the eyes, add a mustache below, and create a small nose and mouth. Fill in details like buttons on the Nutcracker’s chest. Once the basic structure is complete, refine the lines and erase any unnecessary marks. For the final step, add color to the Nutcracker’s costume, using red for the jacket, black for the boots, and green for the pants. Add a golden accent to the hat and buttons for added detail.

Alternative Nutcracker Worksheets

Conclusion

As you’ve already noticed, drawing the Nutcracker is not a difficult task, although it has its own distinctive features. Now, let’s try to learn how to draw the Nutcracker in a more three-dimensional and detailed way. To do this, create a more complex composition. Start by drawing a ballerina performing a beautiful pirouette next to the Nutcracker. Then, draw a background that complements the Nutcracker, with decorations that you might find on the stage of a classical ballet.

Of course, the Nutcracker is not the only character you can find on the pages of my website. To learn how to draw other iconic characters from fairy tales, movies, and cartoons, visit other sections of the site. For example, you can learn how to draw Santa Claus, the main symbol of Christmas, and probably winter in general. Additionally, you can learn how to draw the Grinch, another essential character often seen in various Christmas-related scenes.